| SCHOOL CELEBRATES MILESTONE |  | | | COTSWOLDS NEWEST BOXING CHAMP | | | ENTER OUR COTSWOLDS PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION | | |
|
|
|
PC's candid camera to show yobs own actions
 |
| PC Mike Tripp with one of the new Cyclon helmet cameras |
POLICE have been issued with high tech headcams in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour in Malmesbury.
The equipment, which sees and hears everything the wearer can, will be used in known hot spots like Oxford Street to confront yobs with had evidence of their bad behaviour.
Neighbourhood policing team manager PC Mike Tripp said: "If people are just going out to enjoy themselves without causing trouble, they have nothing to worry about."
"But if they are going to cause mischief it is going be recorded and they will be shown what they have done."
Currently officers find people have difficulty believing what they are accused of even when they sober up.
"I think people will be quite shocked when they see how they behave."
Malmesbury has been plagued with incidents of late night violence in recent weeks and at one stage licensees in Oxford Street pulled back last orders by half-an-hour in an attempt to cut problems with rowdy drunks.
But in one incident at the beginning of March a mass brawl developed, leaving at least seven people hurt and resulting in several arrests.
"It is a deterrent, but it is also a vital piece of equipment when gathering evidence," PC Tripp explained. "It has got a very good image and it is very powerful at picking up sound."
"We used to have people carrying video cameras but everybody can carry these from senior officers to Police Community Support Officers."
The system is not limited to dealing with street violence. "It is really useful at any kind of incident where evidence gathering is critical."
Images can then be shared with other agencies.
Police are currently talking with traders, licencees and local authorities about measures to reduce the amount of antisocial behaviour on Malmesbury's streets and the town council has announced it intends to revive plans for CCTV covering the centre.
11:55am Friday 28th March 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Sir Robert Mark, Oxford Institute of Retail Management on 7:06am Sat 29 Mar 08
Another huge step towards a "big brother" environment.
Instead of **** about with high-tech cameras, why dont the Old Bill just arrest the culprits and lock them up.
The laws are already in place for such actions.
Or is that too easy an option??
Another huge step towards a "big brother" environment.
Instead of **** about with high-tech cameras, why dont the Old Bill just arrest the culprits and lock them up.
The laws are already in place for such actions.
Or is that too easy an option??
Posted by: petethepirate, the high seas on 12:58pm Sat 29 Mar 08
"Sir Robert Mark" obviously didn't read the bit that mentioned arrests.
The best option would be for the courts to dish out some real justice, not a pathetic slap in the wrist because the defence lawyer has trotted out some sob story.
"Sir Robert Mark" obviously didn't read the bit that mentioned arrests.
The best option would be for the courts to dish out some real justice, not a pathetic slap in the wrist because the defence lawyer has trotted out some sob story.
Posted by: Snarky, Cirencester on 3:01pm Fri 4 Apr 08
This would, of course, depend on a police officer actually being somewhere near where an offence is being committed.
This would, of course, depend on a police officer actually being somewhere near where an offence is being committed.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
